The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1887-10-27
Waldo County Teachers Association.


teachers in Waldo county. No sooner is the day |
for the convention named than the barometer be
gins falling, and when the day comes the rain /
comes. Friday was no exception to the rule /
Despite the storm, however, the worst of the sea
son), about forty gathered in the High school
bung in the afternoon Of the first day.
The meeting was called to order by Superintend-
ent Luce who opened it with few remarks en-
phasizing the purposes of these meetings. Miss |
Ellen j. Pierce of this city, then read the opening
paper the subject of character the best result
Of education" The paper was short but well
prepared well delivered and well received. 1t
was discussed by Superintendent Luce and Mr..
Rich, of Belfast. Mr.. A. L. Brown, of Belfast, !
then proposed the question, GLOW much and how
early should grammar he taught" The discus
sion Of this question occupied the remainder of
the afternoon and was participated in by aIessrs.
Brown, Rich, Luce and Cortllel.
In the evening small but interested audience
greeted Prof Cortle and listened to his address.
superintendent Luce opened the meeting by re-
marking that a small audience is not always bad
thing, under some circumstances an audience of
is large enough if it is a certain one and here
is an audience of a large number of certain ones.
Professor William J. Corthel, of Gorham, then
ansl expression and its application to teaching. He
said the world is but an expression of Gods
thought. First was the "Let be-" then it was.
Thought must 90 before expression, never expires
sion before thought 1t is a fundamental law of
the mind and must not be lost sight of in teaching
Not all thought gives rise to clear expression, but
clear expression can never result from confused
al! indistinct thinking. Therefore teachers should
ri-, al,
may follow but train to clear expression as well.
The thought is necessarily obscure because the
expression is 50, for the child may lack words to
give expires sion to its ideas. Not all are painters
not necessarily that we cannot create vivid mental
pictures, but we lack skill to express those pic
lures. Train then to expression, for thought must
find expression, if it is to be of value to the child
1t is the teachers chief business, however, to
develop thought. Before any expression is at
tempted there must be laid Il thorough ground
work Of ideas. To teach child that frac-
ton i Of the equal parts of
Unit, without first giving the idea of the terms
equal" cunt" and parts Is useless, for it is
placing expression before thought it is violation
oG The fundamental law of the intellect. To teach
c.iit' It. repeat that an adjective limits noun Is
useless unless that child first understands the
up the idea of lilnitarion then the expression fol
lows: but expression never did and never can give
rise 10 thought Write OF the board the word
''lo! " ard then -how that it may mean any boy i'll
the WuIl,,, then good boy and show the child
that 'cod limits ii to q certain class of boys. In
t!i- wa. the idea of limitation is given 10 the child
and expression comes naturally. y rule is but an
expression of thought, and to teach child rule
i
any rule is given lead the child by examples to see
every step of the process. The rule, however, is
hut a statement OF the process and when the child
mas come to the steps the necessity of the rule
| i past. Nere5 teach rules Derive rules from en-
| amples. Let Your rule be first the idea then the
name; first the thought then the expression. 1.-The
sum of all arts is the art of thinking
saturday morning the meeting opened it'll dis
ru-sion of the query, "What can teachers do to in
crease school attendance" superintendent Luce
| made many suggestions of methods He SAYS that
out of total school population of 2l4,0OO only 49,
600 attended last year. and even the attendance of
those registered is not than three fourhs of
the number lie suggests that the responsibility is
primarily with the parent to get the scholar into
school, but when the scholar is once there, it is
with the teacher chiefly To hold them when he gets
estng by entering into the work heartily, and by
using correct methods of instruction. Emphasize
attendance. Let your scholars that YOU feel it
important Impress it upon their minds. They are
very likely 10 put about the same value ON these
| things that you do. Keep your register correctly
and frequently cali attention to it, Roll call at
the opening of school serves to give emphasis by
causing each scholar to declare his presence and
tends TO create emulation to be there to answer
| L" his name Publishing the names of those not
tar'ly, absent or dismissed in the newspaper, OF
reading loll of them in town meeting is good
i1. call on the parents and ask them that
| tie children are punctual and regular in attend
/ ahcc. 50 far as possible demdDd attendance, and
enforce it by causing work lost to be made up. To
| do THIS have some work at the school house that
| shall regularly keep sou Il Lalf hour or 50 after
| the close If school. Have book in front of the
whole school; and if any one is late cause him to
write his name in the book in the presence of ;hc
school. send Part of tine school work home in the
| form of question that will cause them 10 consult
their parents, and thus excite greater interest on
/ IL" Part of the parents. These were among the
| 8. questions ADV anced
Prof >wcct-er "t l.ucksport gave an address ON
"WhHt shall do with that text book" Mr.
! Evans of Waldo read 4 paper on S'Characterisics
! Of the good teacher which was discussed bv
snt, Luce. f. w. Brown of Belfast gave a teach
| Ing exercise in geography. spirited discussion
was starc! hy remark of Supt. Luce with
reference to teachers using their profession as a
stepping stone" to something else.
In the afternoon paper read by Mr.. IIus>ey
Of "al4" on Teaching by Example, The CUES
tl"n Don was then passed and many questions
ASKED and answered. The convention closed at
iiaf PAST three by singing America
The following officers were elected for the com
ing year Pres, j. +. Rich, Belfast; Vice Pres NJ
}. West, Monroe; Sec, Miss NJ. I. Mitchell, Free
! DOM Committee on professional reading l. NJ
| Luce, Waldo: Executive Committee, F. w Brown
Belfast Hattie Cole Frankfort Mr. DolioN, Mon
roe, Miss NJ. +. Stevens Swanville and Mrs.
! Matthews, Searsport.
! IL seemed to he the opinion of the convention
| that two meetings should be held yearly one in
the spring and one in the fall that i'll the fall com
ing carrier than it now does. The next meeting
VIII be at Unity, probably, the matter being left
with the executive committee.
| There Is 4 wocful lack of professional spirit
| among the teachers in this county. We all com
PLAN at our wages, and that the public does not
appreciate ourlabors. This will be as long as we
| MAKE teaching trade instead of profession and
are satisfied to get through our six hours the best
way we can Meeting together and comforting to-
Setier tends to cultivate this professional spirit
| 10 give Us higher views of our profession, and to
! stimulate Us 10 more efficient preparation. ANY
teacher who can attend these meetings and does
not, lacks one very essential qualification for q
good teacher, tore for, aud interest in his cork
Newspaper Notes.
The Marine Journal, New York, has entered
| 'pon its tenth volume. 1t is IL staunch defender
and advocate of American shipping interests